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Things To Teach Your
Teenage Driver
Isn't it hard to communicate with your teenager about issues
in his or her life?
Regardless of the communication challenges, there are two
challenges you need to discuss with them:
driving and
insurance. The following are four things to teach
your teenage driver.
1. Driving is a
privilege, not a right.
From a state's viewpoint, they will not hesitate to suspend or revoke a driver's
license if too many violations are received in a short period of time. If the
driver receives a DUI or is involved in an accident and he or she is not
adequately insured the state will suspend or revoke a driver's license.
From the parents' viewpoint: if the teenager is a minor or a dependant, the
state may hold the parents liable for his or her actions. Also, since parents
usually pay for the teenager's bills, they should be honest and let the teenage
driver know that driving his or her driving privilege will be revoked by them,
if she or he does not meet their expectations for driving responsibility or
anything else.
2. Insurance for
teenage drivers is expensive.
Due to the accident statistics for teenage drivers, their rates start out high
that is a fact. It only gets higher with accumulated violations. Also, with
accumulated violations, the parents' insurance company and other insurance
companies, may not choose to insure them. This lack of supply by insurance
companies creates a higher demand, and as a result creates higher premiums.
3. Teenagers
need to know there are consequences to their actions - especially if it involves
auto accidents.
The teenage driver needs to know that people get hurt and possibly DIE in
auto accidents. Teenagers seem to be oblivious of their or anyone else's
mortality. There are laws of physics that need to be understood when an accident
takes place. Also, it may not seem cool, but the teenage driver needs to make
sure everybody in the vehicle wears his or her safety belt.
4. Last, your teenage driver needs to
avoid distractions and
concentrate on driving.
Unfortunately, a safety belt and an air bag do not totally protect the human
body. Only avoiding accidents will keep everyone safe. In order to do this, the
teenage driver has to know why she or he is driving. Most of the time, it is to
reach his or her destination SAFELY.
Besides fastening safety belts, the teenage driver needs to set radio before she
or he starts to drive. Teenagers need to be advised not to use a cell phone
until he or she is done driving. This will allow them not to be distracted by
either looking down to switch stations as they drive or by concentrating on
their phone conversation instead of the road ahead.
Also, while driving, the teenager needs to keep his or her eyes moving. This
will help keep the driver from 'dazing' and allow him or her to concentrate on
the surroundings, especially the other cars sharing the road with them. The
teenager needs to expect the unexpected while he or she is driving. In
particular, he or she needs to be aware of the unpredictably of children, people
on bicycles, and aggressive drivers.
Talking to your teenager may not be easy. She or he may not want to participate
with you in an in-depth driving conversation. However, the previous four things
should be taught to him or her not only to keep teenagers safe on the road but
so you can sleep at night knowing that you have communicated to them the finer
points of driving and the insurance that goes along with that.
Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. It should not be
interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to
provide financial or legal advice. This information is provided for information
purposes only.
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